How to Choose the Best Industrial Scrubbing Machine for Warehouses and Factories

Cleaning large spaces like warehouses and factories tends to call for special cleaning equipment. High foot traffic, lots of movement by heavy machines, and frequent spills can be so challenging to handle using the average cleaning tools. This is where industrial scrubbing machines come in as the best tool in handling this. The right choice of scrubbing machine for your warehouse or factory is very crucial to maintaining cleanliness, safety, and productivity.

In this article, we discuss the industrial-related cleaning challenges and how to choose the best industrial scrubbing machine.

Common Industrial Cleaning Challenges

Cleaning in warehouses and factories is usually different from what you experience in a standard office or commercial setup. Here are some of the most common ones:

Large Floor Areas

In an industrial setting, large areas in warehouses and factories can only be cleaned with efficient machinery. Cleaning large floor areas manually or with very inferior machinery would take time and lots of energy; consequently, it would lead to productivity loss.

Tough Greases and Dirt

Industrial areas particularly gather greasy oils and other tough stains that require more than basic cleaning. Such settings also tend to have dust and debris due to the constant movement of goods and equipment.

Foot Traffic and Machinery Movements

Warehouses and factories are usually high-traffic facilities with many footfalls and machinery movements-this includes electric forklifts and conveyor belts. This results in rapid accumulation of dirt in the facilities, which needs to be constantly cleaned to ensure safety standards are maintained and slipping hazards are not occurring.

Safety and Hygiene Compliance

For instance, many industries call for high safety and hygiene standards to be maintained. In food processing plants or pharmaceutical factories, for example, cleanliness is not just an aesthetic concern but is also legally enforced.

Tight Corners and Hard-to-Reach Areas

Industrial designs are often complex, with tight corners, narrow aisles, and other inaccessible locations. Such plant designs can be practically impossible to clean using standard cleaning equipment.

Important Things to Know When Selecting an Industrial Scrubbing Machine

Against these challenges, the right choice of industrial scrubbing machine will guarantee the best result. Here are several key points to consider:

1. Type of Scrubbing Machine

Industrial scrubbing machines come in diverse types, each meant for a specific type of cleaning need. The three major types include:

Walk-behind Scrubbers: The walk-behind scrubber is suitable for walking areas and those places which require manoeuvrability for cleaning the nook and corner areas. They are good for smaller industrial premises or other areas that have narrow working spaces.

Ride-on Scrubbers: Ride-on scrubbers are perfect for large-scale warehouses and factories because they can cover large distances in a very short period of time. It is made for high-speed cleaning and, hence, is an excellent option for large warehouses and factories.

Robotic Scrubbers: This is a great investment for firms to save on labour costs and improve cleaning effectiveness. These are primarily used where hygiene demands are high and the area that needs cleaning is large.

Advice: Use a ride-on or robotic if you have great coverage. For closer space, a walk-behind could be the best option.

2. Type of Floor and Related Cleaning Needs

Mainly, the type of flooring seen in the warehouse or factory will determine the right scrubber to be used. This would be different, though, if using concrete, tile, or epoxy-coated surfaces, which may require specific cleaning techniques and sometimes machine features.

• For rough or textured floors, heavy-duty brushes and high-pressure cleaning should be allowed in your scrubber.
• For smooth surfaces, soft-bristled or padded machines can be employed since they gently clean the floor with no damages.

Advice: Make sure to match the cleaning machine’s scrubbing power with the brush type to your type of floor material in order not to damage it yet to achieve optimal cleanliness.

3. Size and Maneuverability

You have to size the machine according to your industrial space layout. The larger scrubbers may not be appropriate in areas with narrow aisles and many obstacles. The smallest scrubbers, in turn, would take too much time to clean larger areas.

• If your space has wide open areas, larger scrubbers will help you finish the task faster.
• For tight-space or dense-area applications, a compact or very manoeuvrable scrubber is really crucial.

Advice: Re-evaluate the layout of your facility and select a scrubber that will let you ride through the area effectively while still optimising cleaning capacity.

4. Water and Detergent Management

Water and cleaning solution utilisation are also important factors. Most modern scrubbing machines have water-saving features, or they enable highly precise control over detergent use.

• Machines fitted with variable water flow will prevent excessive water use, hence saving on costs and faster drying.
• Some scrubbers are designed with recovery tanks, which collect dirty water to prevent water from spreading throughout the floor. This is useful in very sanitary industries.

Advice: Seek for machines with water and detergent management capabilities to enhance effectiveness in cleaning while saving on cost.

5. Battery life and Power source

An important aspect when choosing the perfect scrubber to suit your needs is the source of power. Industrial scrubbers exist in different configurations: battery-powered, electric, and gas-powered.

Battery-Powered: These machines are the most versatile. There is no need for them to be plugged into a power outlet, and thus, they may be taken to places that would be difficult to wire into an electrical source. However, frequent battery charging is necessary. It is best to select a machine with a long battery life so that it doesn’t interrupt your operation.

Electric scrubbers: Electric scrubbers produce steady power but are not as wide as the length of the power cord. They are best used in smaller or more enclosed spaces.

Advice: In places like warehouses and factories with large floor space, a battery machine, for instance, with a long-lasting charge, or even a gas-powered one for continuous heavy-duty cleaning is recommended.

6. Durability and Maintenance

Industrial scrubbing machines are not a cheap investment. Select a machine that is durable and with minimal maintenance. Choose machines that are made of high-quality materials capable of being as rugged as the heavy-industrial environment’s demands.

Opt for easily replaceable parts with good after-sales support for maintenance purposes.

Advises: Choose machines from reputable brands like UMW Equipment that have reliable after-sales services and replacement parts.

Conclusion

It’s an important decision in choosing the best industrial scrubbing machine for warehouses and factories. Your overall cleanliness, safety, and operations can be guaranteed with careful consideration of the size of your space, floor type, power source, and machine durability.

With UMW Equipment, you gain access to a wide range of high-quality industrial scrubbing machines tailored to handle the toughest cleaning challenges in industrial environments.